Mark Ballas and Shawn Johnson win DWTS 8th Season

Shawn Johnson, 17, the youngest competitor and Olympic gold medal-winner gymnast and her partner “Mark” Alexander Corky Ballas Jr, went on to win the 8th season finale of Dancing With The Stars, closely beating Gilles Marini and his partner Cheryl Burke in what host Tom Bergeron called “our closest ever finale. When we combined the judges’ scores with your votes there was less than 1% difference — less than 1% in share — between the couples that came in first and second.”

Just before their performance, Ballas and Johnson were seen bowing their heads in prayer and later Ballas said, ““We know how great it is to be here and have the honor to perform in front of millions of people every Monday and Tuesday. We are very grateful.” An energetic freestyle type dance with sequined masks and jazz hands clinched the title for the two. Just before the finale Mark was shown on camera as he visited the Beneveda Medical Group in Beverly Hills, CA for his psychological, spiritual and physical energy boost-up. He went through some therapy and then stripped for the hydrotherapy. He said, “I’m naked as a Jay bird. I can’t believe I’m on camera right now.”

Meanwhile, it was accolades all the way for Shawn Johnson on the show. Judge Bruno Tonioli said, “Shawn’s freestyle was IT! The others didn’t quite get it together as well.” Still, Tonioli said, “It’s going to be a close call for a winner.” Jane Seymour added, “Shawn was a huge surprise. I don’t think Gilles did near as much as either women, but then that’s always the case with the men.” She is the third Olympian to win the ballroom dancing show.